Folding voting-booth.



J. J. KRES S.

FOLDING VOTING BOOTH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 19:5.

7 ,7 .0 f d j g .1 M y j J 7 g {I 4 f, 7 f NOW. 0? o o o o o m 0 I M m g M n m v 1,! f .1 j y w M Z 5 z X My 1 i 5, 1 M 4/ y j E W 4 g 7 4, 4 4m Z, Y l o 1 hm m l ,5 e a wl m y A z w s j Z j j 1 n W Attorneys J. J. KRESS.

FOLDING vorme'soom.

APPLICATION FILED APR, I6 1915.

1 $46 1 4.. Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor Attorneys rename vormq-Boo'rn.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentea N 7,

Application filed Apri 16,1915. Se ia 'No.21,742.

To all'wkom alimony-concern Be it known that I, JoHN J. Knnss, acitizen of the United States, residing at Davenport, in :the county of Scott andState of Iowa, have invented a newanduseful Folding' Voting-Booth, of which the-following is a specification. I

The device forming the subject matterof this application "is a collapsible building of that general type employed as a voting booth, a bathing house, a dressing room or a privy.

One object of the inventionis to provide a structure of this sort which may be collapsed and folded into small compass, for transportation or storage.

Another object ofthe invention is toprovide novel means for unitin the constituent sections of the structure-w en the same is set up.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for holding the constituent portions of the device in folded condition.

The invention aims to provide novel means for mounting in place a shelf or platform constituting a portion of the structure.

It is within the scope-of theinvention to improve generally and to enhancethe utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

lVith the above and other objects in View which will appear as .the description -pro ceeds,-the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood thatchanges in the precise embodiment ofthe'invention herein disclosedcan be made Within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawin s:

Figure 1 shows the invention -1n front elevation, one of the closures or curtains being swung back;

Fig. 2 is a top plan;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing one section of the structure in folded condition;

Fig. i is an end elevation showin the other section of the structure in folde condition; V

Fig. 5 is a erspective illustrating one form of hinge oints used;

Fig. 6 is a fragmental perspective showing the means whereby one end of one ofithe shelves is :upheld; .1

Fig; 7 is afragmental perspectiveshowing a portion of the shelf which cooperates Fig.-. 9is a perspective showing the shelf supporting. hook on the auxiliary section s Fig. 1Q;is a; fragmental perspective of the shelf which forms a part of .the auxiliary;-

section; V

Fig.; l1 is a fragmental longitudinal section taken through one side wall of the main section of the device. v.

,The structure herein disclosed comprises amain section and as many auxiliary, sections as may be found expedient or necessary. 'The main section and its operation will first be described.

The main section embodies a back and sides. The sides are substantial duplicates of the back and'the back willbe described indetail in order that the description of the sides may be shortened accordingly. The back comprises asshown best in Figs. 1 .and 2, spaced, parallel'uprights land 2-, the uprights 1 and 2 being connected byga top rail; 3, a mid rail 4 and a bottom rail In unitingthe rails 3, 4 and 5 with the uprights 1 and 1 2,- the parts preferably are mortisedsecured to-the outer face 'of the frame, which constitutes a portion ofthe back. v

As shown to best advantage in Fig. 8, the uprights 2 of the back are provided adjacent their 'upper and lower ends (note Fig. 1) with upright keepers 8, the upper ends, of which are offset as shown at 9; The keepers constitute a portion of the means whereby one section of the structure is connected with another section thereof andthe functionsof the parts 8 will be dealt with specifically hereinafter.

The main section comprises a side wall and, presupp'osing that the observer is facingthe structure as shown in Figs, 1 and 2, this side wall will be referred to as the left hand side wall, the same comprising a jection 42. The functions of the parts 18 and 42 will be brought out hereinafter.

In order to connect the left hand side wall with the back, hinge plates 19 are mounted upon the forward face of the back and hinge plates 20 are mounted upon the outer face of the left hand side wall, the hinge plates 19 and 20 being pivotally connected by means of links 21. This detail will be understood best when Fig. 2 is compared with Fig. 5. Referring to Fig. 2 it will be observed that the left hand side wall stands in front of the back 3, and, owing to the provision of the links 21, the left hand side wall may be swung rearwardly to rest against the outer or rear face of the back 3 when the device is folded up as shown in Fig. 4. Secured to the rear upright 11 of the left hand side wall are latches 22. The latches 22 ordinarily but not of necessity are strips of leather and are mounted pivotally, so that they may hang in the depending positions shown in Fig. 1, or be swung around to assume other positions.

The right hand wall of the main section of the structure embodies a rear upright 23, a front upright 24, a top rail 25, a midrail 26, a panel 27 which, like the other panels preferably is made of canvas, although this feature is not essential, angle brackets 28 being employed for connecting the uprights to the various cross rails as indicated in Fig. 11. Binding brackets 29 extend around the angles defined by the top rails 25 and the front uprights 24. Near to its upper end and upon its inner face, the rear upright 23 of the right hand side wall is provided with a projection 30. Below this projection 30 is located a projection 31, indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Ordinary strap hinges 32 unite the inner edge of the right haml side wall with the back. Latches 33 are mounted upon the outer face of the rear upright 23 of the right hand side wall near to the upper and lower ends thereof. These latches are of the type hereinbefore set forth in connection with the elements 22.

By means of hinges 34, one end of a shelf 35 is connected with the upper edge of the midrail 26 of the right hand side wall, as will be understood when Figs. 2 and 11 are compared. Fixed to and depending from the shelf 35 intermediate its ends is a hook 36 which is adapted to coact with the projection 31 under circumstances which will be set forth hereinafter. Attached to the under face of the shelf 35, as shown in Fig. 7, and projecting beyond the free end of the shelf is an arm 37 having an opening 38. This opening 38 is adapted to receive a finger 39. The finger 39 is mounted in the midrail 15 of the left hand side wall, and, as shown in Fig. 6, preferably is one of the elements whereby is held in place one of the angle brackets 16 which connects the midrail 26 with the rear upright 23 of the left hand side wall.

A closure for the forward side of the main section of the structure is provided,-

a strip of canvas or other flexible material,

although the closure maybe variously constructed. In the drawings, the closure is denoted by the numeral 40 and its right hand edge is secured to the forward edge of the front upright 24 of the right hand side wall. One of the securing elements whereby the closure 40 is held to the upright 24 is elongated, as clearly shown at 41, so that it projects beyond the forward face of the closure 40. Adjacent its upper left hand corner the closure 40 is provided with a hole 43. In the forward edge of the front upright of the right hand side wall, below the lower edge of the closure 40 there is a projection 44. I

As shown in Fig. 11, a support in the form of a hook 45is secured to the outer face of the midway rail 26 of the right hand side wall, the hook 45 projecting through the panel 27 and, incidentally, aiding to support the same against sagging.

When the main section of the structure is set up, the same appears as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the side walls standing at right angles to the back and the shelf 35 being lowered, the opening 38 in the arm 37 being engaged with the finger 39 on the midrail 15 on the left hand side wall. The shelf 35 thus is held in a horizontal position. and acts as a brace connecting the side walls. The closure 40 may hang in an open position, as shown in Fig. 1, or, if desired, the opening 43 in the closure may be engaged with the projection 18.

Suppose that it is desired to collapse the main section of the device so that the same appears as shown in Fig. 4. Then the arm 37 on the shelf 35 is detached from the finger 39 and the shelf is swung upwardly until the same lies within the contour of the rectangle defined by the rear upright 23, the front upright 24, the top rail 25 and the midrail 26 of the right hand side wall. The hook 36 is then engaged with the projection 31, and thus the shelf is upheld. The closure 40 is detached from the projection 18 and is swung inwardly so that it lies against the .inner face of the right hand side wall, the

hole 43 being engaged with the projection30. Then, the right hand.v side wall along with the closure 40 is swung rearwardly until these parts lie parallel to the back and ad jacent the forward faceof theback. The left hand side wall is swung"rearwardly until it rests against the outer or rear face of the back, the links 21 permitting this operation. around and is engaged with the securing element 41, the lowermost latch 22 being connected with the projection 44. The uppermost latch 33 is engaged with the projection 18 and the lowermost latch 22 is engaged with the projection 42. The main section of the structure then is in the folded and compact condition disclosed in Fig. 4 of the drawing.

In conjunction with the main section above described there are employed any desired number of auxiliary sections. These auxiliary sections so far as structural details are concerned, resemble the main section closely, and since the main section has been described at length, the auxiliary section need be described but briefly.

The auxiliary section comprises a rear wall 46 and a side wall 47 hingedly connect-- ed adjacent their upper and lower ends as shown at 48. The rear wall or back and the side wall comprise uprights, cross rails, panels and angle brackets, all as hereinbefore described. Noting Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be observed that the side wall 47 stands in front of the back 46, so that the rear, longitudinal edges of these parts define an angle 49. This angle 49 is adapted to re ceive the longitudinal edge of the back 46 of an adjoining section, so that any number of auxiliary sections may be employed. The back 46 is provided with keepers 52 constructed like the keepers 8. That edge of the back 46 which is remote from the hinge 48 is provided with rigid, transverse latches 50 having offset or rectangularly disposed ends 51. Note Fig. 8. The edge of the back 46 is received in the angle defined by the parts 2'and 23 of the main section and, upon relative longitudinal movement between the main and auxiliary sections, the latches 5O engage behind the offset ends 9 of the keepers 8, the ends 51 of the latches 50 engaging the upright longitudinal edges of the offset ends 9 of the keepers 8, and thus, the main and auxiliary sections are firmly but detachably connected together.

Attached to the forward edge of the side wall 47 is a flexible closure 53. One of the securing elements which unite the closure to the forward edge of the side wall 47 is elongated as shown at 54. In the forward edge of the side wall and below the closure there is a projection 55. On the inner face of the side wall 47 adjacent its upper end there The uppermost latch 22 is swung hereinbefore described. are mounted on the outer face'oflthe back 46 adjacent the free edge thereoflv Tlieishelf is shown: at 58. and is hingedly mounted at 60 as: hereinbefore described. Thestrikingplate. onthe movable end of the shelf 58 is shown at 59. In the striking plate 59 there is a hole 61 adapted to receive the free end ofthehook 45 onto the right hand side wall of the main portion of the structure. The striking plate 59 does not project beyond the free end of the shelf 58, because, as clearly shown in Fig. 11, the free end of the shelf 58 lies in close proximity to the flexible panel 27 which constitutes a part of the right hand side wall of the main portion of the structure. Projecting laterally from the midrail 62 of the side wall 47 is a hook 63 which registers in the opening 61 of the striking plate 59 on the shelf 58 of an adjoining auxiliary section, when more than one auxiliary section is used.

In order to fold up the auxiliary section, the same is lifted up until the latches 50 no longer are engaged behind the offset ends 9 on the keeper 8 on the main section. The closure 53 is detached from the projection 41 wherewith it is ordinarily assembled and is swung inwardly against the inner face of the side walls 47, the upper corner of the closure 53 being engaged with the projection 56, when the side wall 47 along with the closure is swung against the inner face of the back 46. Prior to this operation, of course, the shelf 58 has been swung upwardly and takes its place within the con tour of the wall 47, as hereinbefore described in cmnection with the shelf 35. After the wall 47 has been swung into parallelism with the back 46, the latches 57 are engaged, respectively, with the projections 54 and 55. The auxiliary section thereupon appears as shown inFig. 3.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is provided in this application, a collapsible structure comprising a plurality of sections each of which may be folded and collapsed upon short notice and with a minimum amount of labor, novel means being provided whereby one section may be detachably interlocked with another when the sections are set up.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is In a structure of the class described, a main section comprising a back and a side wall hinged to the back, the rear edge of the side wall being disposed in substantial alinement with the forward face of the back to define a reentrant angle at the rear inner corner of the main section; an independent auxiliary section comprising a back and a side wall, one longitudinal edge of the back of the auxiliary section fittable into the reentrant angle; means carried by the backs In testimony that I claim the foregoing as whereby the backs may be interlocked upon my own, I have hereto ainxed my signature 1. relative vertical movement between the secin the presence of two Witnesses.

tions, the rear ecl 'e of the side Wall of the main section actiilg as a guide facilitating JOHN R the interengngement of said means upon Witnesses: re1et1ve vertical movement between the sec- C. U. SCI-IAEFER, tlons. H. L. CROFT.

five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for l Washington, D. G. 

